. . . . Ricks Extra Long hair . . . .: Chrimblemuss to New Years and beyond

Virus warning. Yes, I am mentioning it. But there is a reason, normal service will be resumed in a few minutes.....

It's the holidays - kind of.

We are all aware of the thing that still exists around us - some people have literally given up worrying about the virus- and are going back to as normal a life as they can and not giving a fuck.

Most people I think are like us - adhering to the restrictions around them, sticking to the rules. but also kind of getting on with life as much as they can. We were always told that we would have to live it -and that's what we are doing. If things get cancelled then there is a positive and a negative side...

Yeah, our Holiday to Mexico will probably get cancelled, but we have free cancellations - So we will have more money in eth ban for another Holiday sometime in the future.

Some people, however, literally don't care about anything virus-related and never have. I don't mean the anti-vaxxers - I mean the little kids, who have lived through this for their entire lives - we have one in our house. He is called Oliver and he DONT GIVE A FUCK!

Look at this video and tell me that this little dude gives a shit about viruses, vaccines or lockdowns.....No way man - There are more important things...... like this box of diapers....

Would you not love to be as oblivious to all this shit as he is!

I make you a promise...... when this is all done (or maybe even before) I am going to find a box of diapers myself, and spend a while throwing them on the floor- just because I can.

One thing I do gove a shot about is winning. I never play games to lose or just to take part. Unless it's with the kids in which case they win at least 1 game in 10. Just to make it even. Anyway, we went bowling just on Dec 23rd - for Cousins Christmas. This is when Buff, Stef and Pat get together with cousins Bradley and Randy with all our other halves for a 'younger generation' celebration of the holidays.

This year we went bowling - 5 pin bowling - yes people, the Canadians can't even get this simple sport correct. They removed half the pins, got a smaller ball and changed the scoring and rules - just because it was a little too hard to throw a big boys ball.

Anyway, it was a good night apart from the ending. I had done a miraculous job carrying our team towards victory after learning the sport amazingly quickly. I even complained to the staff when the game timer stopped early - getting extra time added to enhance our victory. But then, on end 5 or 6, I sent my ball careening so fast - dead straight and blasted the pins so much, that they got caught up together. For the next 3-4 minutes the pins tea-bagged up and down, unable to break free and allow the game to be finished. The other team, whose names I would not mention on here, but may have had someone who looks like Buffy, Randy, Kailey, Pat or Alana involved, played dirty and carried on playing while we were stranded waiting for a Santa Costumed Pin Medic to appear and unscramble the testicular twine that enshrined our limp pins. The 'other team' played 3 or 4 ends whilst we waited and as time ran out we had one more chance of victory but with the pressure mounting Stef failed to produce and we fell, at the last hurdle, to a 463 - 423 loss. A meaningless contest that has started the downfall of society as we know it. Believe me 'cousins' for vengeance is coming next year....

The scores....BULLSHIT!

After that Christmas was ruined.

Although we made a pretty good job of having a good time.

We were unable to go out to Meg and Brents due to restrictions, so the immediate family - Us, Stef Alana, Pat, Austin, Erika, Jon and Susan had a lovely Christmas dinner at Jon and Susan's. followed on Boxing day with presents. Let's not get too deep into things and who gave what, except for the fact that Stefan won family Christmas this year by giving a small bear-shaped pillow, with the Face of 'Weird Mustachioed Stefan adorning the head. It is both amazingly cute to gift this to his niece and nephews but also alarming scary. I drove home with BEAR FACED-STEF peering out the back window of the car and witnessed multiple crashes behind me most of which looked deliberate in their attempts to get away from the horror confronting them.

Luckily, our little hard-faced monster 'Oliver' had no such fear and after seeing the bear close up, he immediately set about either kissing or biting it. We arent sure which, but as previously explained. Oliver don't give a shit....

Stef wins Chrstmas

It really was a nice Christmas, though - Thanks to everyone far and near for sending presents, cards and gifts for us and the kids. They actually really enjoyed every single thing they were sent and we have had to move things round in the basement and bought some shelving from Ikea to give us enough room for all of it! Also, thanks to Gareth and Tracey, Hannah now sleeps in a star-patterned tent in the corner of her room, whilst the 3-month-old bed we bought her lies empty and cold every night! She loves it!

Hannah in her tent!

Heres a few highlights from the last week or so...

Boxing day at the Cowtans...

Merry Christmas everyone..

Hannah dancing during her Nap time...

Me and Hannah messing about...

Ollie listening to headphones for the first time

Anyway, it's been busy - but with a week off work we are also spending a lot of time together, which is really nice, Buffy and myself have also just had our boosters, so that's also good.

I have been out running in the fresh winter weather a few times and am loving that too. It's only 2 days till the new year now, so I think I will end this for now and see you in a few days.

Ok, it's now January the something...I never know what day it is this time of year. I know 2 things - today is cold. Tomorrow will also be cold.

We have had a good week since I last wrote any nonsense - we had a couple of get-togethers with friends and their kids - playing with the new Christmas gifts and enjoying the company of other adult type beings whilst the inmates (Kurds, Kids, children, the boss or whatever you want to call them) attempt to destroy the house and anything within.

Hannahs favourite Hide and Seek spot!

The two favourite past-times at the moment are playing with the toy train that currently rumbles around our dining table (even when we are eating dinner) and 'Lay Down Daddy games' - a book that Buffy bought for Fathers day and entails games that the kids can play with me (or anyone else) that involve lying down whilst the kids mess about around you. There is one where I am a monster under a blanket. Another and I am Gulliver, being tied down by the lilliputians and my favourite where the kids basically bury me under a pile of blankets and pillows. Its all good fun and much easier than running around the house like a horse!

I am under there!

See!

Upside down monster face!

Another of Hannah favourite is to get inside her tunnel and pretend it's a rocket - I then have to swing her around and pretend to land on other planets - she especially loves Planet Toilet, where there are always floods...